The sun was shining brightly on the wet sand, making everything sparkle. A big, round Clam was enjoying the warmth. It slowly opened its shell, just a little bit, to feel the sun on its soft insides. "Ah, this is the life!" thought the Clam.

Just then, a long-legged bird called a Snipe came hopping along. The Snipe had a very long, pointy beak, perfect for poking into things. It was looking for a tasty breakfast. When the Snipe saw the Clam's open shell, its eyes lit up. "Yummy!" it chirped, and quickly poked its long beak inside to grab the Clam's soft meat.

But the Clam was quick! SNAP! It slammed its shell shut, trapping the Snipe's beak.
"Ouch!" cried the Snipe. "Let go of my beak!"

"If you don't open up today," said the Snipe, "and if it doesn't rain tomorrow, you'll dry up in the sun and become a dead clam!"

The Clam, with its beak still caught, mumbled back, "Well, if I don't open up today, and I don't open up tomorrow, your beak will be stuck, and you'll become a dead snipe!"

Neither the Snipe nor the Clam wanted to give in. They were both very stubborn.

As they were arguing, an old Fisherman walked by with his net. He saw the Snipe with its beak stuck in the Clam. "Well, well, what have we here?" he chuckled. He easily picked up both the Snipe and the Clam and put them in his basket. "Looks like I'll have a good dinner tonight!" he said happily.

And so, because the Snipe and the Clam couldn't stop fighting, the Fisherman got them both.

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